Oklahoma defensive back Kendel Dolby plans to enter transfer portal

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The Oklahoma Sooners are gearing up for their first College Football Playoff game since 2019. When the Sooners take on the Alabama Crimson Tide on Friday night, OU will be without defensive back Kendel Dolby.

Dolby was ruled out for this Friday night’s game on Tuesday, and on Wednesday morning, he announced via X, formerly known as Twitter, that he intends to enter the transfer portal when it opens at the beginning of January.

The former junior college addition became an important piece of the Sooners defense when he took over the cheetah linebacker position during the 2023 season. He played 475 snaps on defense for the Sooners that year and was one of Oklahoma’s best defensive players.

His interception of Quinn Ewers inside the 10-yard line of the 2023 Red River Showdown was a huge play in the game. Dolby had a knack for playmaking and was a physical tackler on the perimeter.

Unfortunately for Dolby and the Sooners, a season-ending injury against Tennessee in Week 4 of 2024 limited him to just three games and 94 snaps. Though he played one more game in 2025, he played 30 fewer snaps and hasn’t seen the field since the loss to Texas.

This season, Kendal Daniels and Reggie Powers emerged to take over the cheetah snaps. Daniels will be out of eligibility at the end of this season and is off to the NFL, and Powers is likely to lead the way at cheetah in 2026.

A key leader for the OU defense over the last three seasons, Dolby will be looking for a new home.

“After much thought and prayerful consideration, I have decided that my time at the University of Oklahoma has come to a close, and I will be entering the transfer portal,” Dolby posted on X.

“I am incredibly grateful for my time as a Sooner and will always be thankful for the opportunity to be part of such a special brotherhood. Thank you Sooner Nation, it has been a wild ride.

“I’m excited and hopeful for this next chapter and look forward to getting back on the field and doing what I love. Forever grateful.”

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma DB Kendel Dolby plans to enter the transfer portal

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